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Halloween is now behind us, jack-o'-lanterns are being replaced by cornucopias, and pumpkin spice lattes are giving way to apple cider. November has arrived and, along with it, one of the most unpredictable occasions on the Major League Soccer calendar: Decision Day.
Just a week ago, CF Montréal and Sporting Kansas City were the only two clubs eliminated from postseason contention. Since then, the playoff picture has grown considerably clearer, with Atlanta United, D.C. United, Austin FC and San Diego FC all seeing their hopes crushed following midweek losses.
Columbus Crew's 3-0 triumph over D.C. on Saturday dealt another devastating blow, knocking New York Red Bulls, New York City FC and Toronto FC out of playoff contention. But while nine teams have had their postseason dreams ended, plenty remains on the line. From home-field advantage and playoff seeding to the final Wild Card berths, the stakes have never been higher as MLS gears up for one final regular season showdown.
With eight matches kicking off simultaneously at 4 p.m. ET (1 p.m. PT) on Saturday and another seven following at 7 p.m. (4 p.m. PT), Decision Day is set to be an emotional rollercoaster. Here's a full breakdown of what's at stake heading into the final matchday of the 2026 MLS regular season.
Western Conference
Who Has Clinched Playoffs?
Last year, Vancouver Whitecaps narrowly missed out on topping the Western Conference standings on Decision Day; however, they had the last laugh by defeating FC Dallas, Los Angeles FC and San Diego FC on their way to their first-ever MLS Cup final. This time around, Vancouver have locked up the top seed with time to spare, and they are guaranteed home-field advantage throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
While Vancouver will be aiming to dismantle Canadian rivals Montréal, FC Dallas will be looking to rebound from their draw with current Wooden Spoon frontrunners Sporting Kansas City. If Dallas fall to Colorado Rapids, and San Jose Earthquakes claim victory at Minnesota United, then San Jose will overtake Dallas for second place.
San Jose could finish anywhere from second to fifth; Bruce Arena's side sits three points behind Dallas and one ahead of St. Louis CITY and Houston Dynamo. Houston currently trail the U.S. Open Cup champions on goal differential, and they must defeat St. Louis in Space City to finish above them.
A win for either side, combined with San Jose failing to win, would see Houston or St. Louis finish third in the West. Conversely, if San Jose win, then Houston and St. Louis will meet in the first round of the playoffs, with the higher-ranked team hosting Games One and Three (if required).
Finally, LAFC secured their playoff berth after rallying from two goals down to draw 2–2 against crosstown rivals LA Galaxy in El Tráfico. They are virtually guaranteed to finish sixth, and they'll be looking to snap their three-match winless run and claim their first away victory since Jul. 17 when they face Seattle Sounders.
Who Is Still Fighting for a Playoff Spot?
It's shaping up to be a thrilling battle for the remaining playoff spots in the Western Conference. LA Galaxy currently hold seventh place, sitting one point ahead of Portland Timbers, Colorado and Seattle, two above Real Salt Lake and three above Minnesota United.
The Galaxy can lock up an automatic playoff berth with a win at Salt Lake, but the same cannot be said for their opponents. Beyond beating the Galaxy, RSL must also rely on Portland losing at Austin, and they'll need Dallas and LAFC to defeat Colorado and Seattle, respectively.
Even with a win over San Jose, Minnesota will likely fall short of securing an automatic playoff berth, though they could still climb above Portland or Colorado into the wild card spots. Eighth-place will host ninth-place in a single-leg match, with the winner advancing to face Vancouver in the opening round.
With six teams battling for their playoff survival, this Decision Day is shaping up to be one of the most dramatic in recent memory.
Eastern Conference
Who Has Clinched Playoffs?
Nashville SC have already claimed their first-ever Supporters' Shield. Now, with a win or draw at FC Cincinnati, they can surpass the all-time league record for most points in a single season (74), set by Inter Miami's 2024 squad.
Miami overtook New England Revolution for second place following their comeback 2–1 victory at Gillette Stadium. They now sit one point ahead of the Revs. Miami and New England are guaranteed to finish second and third; the only question is the order. While Miami host Charlotte FC on Saturday, New England travel to Orlando City — both formidable opponents.
Chicago Fire are guaranteed to face Charlotte FC in the opening round of the playoffs, and the first match will likely be held in the Windy City. Charlotte trail Chicago by two points and must beat Miami to have any chance of finishing fourth. They also need Columbus Crew to avoid defeat in Chicago. If both conditions are met, Charlotte will claim fourth place.
Philadelphia Union clinched their playoff spot last Wednesday via a goalless draw against Nashville. Cincinnati then punched their own ticket with an exciting win over Philly on Saturday.
Columbus Crew and Orlando City secured playoff berths over the weekend, currently holding the two Wild Card seeds.
Who Is Still Fighting for an Automatic Playoff Spot?
In the Western Conference, several teams have yet to clinch a playoff spot; however, the situation in the East is different. All nine clubs advancing to the postseason are already known, and the remaining six have accepted their fate. That said, Decision Day still carries significant implications for a number of Eastern Conference sides.
Philadelphia Union currently sit sixth in the East, one point above Cincinnati, three above Columbus, and four above Orlando. If the Union avoid a home loss against Toronto, they will confirm their place in the opening round of the playoffs. A defeat, however, could see them slip into the wild card spots.
Cincinnati, Columbus and Philadelphia are all vying for the right to play at least two playoff matches rather than being thrown into a win-or-go-home clash. Orlando are guaranteed to feature in the wild card match for the second consecutive year, but they need to beat New England and hope Chicago defeat Columbus in order to secure home-field advantage.